What questions are asked by HMRC regarding NIC history when ringing up to claim SP?

MarcusHutch

Hello helpful folks,

So that I can try to get my files in order, can anyone provide an idea of what questions are asked by HMRC regarding NIC / location / employment history when ringing up to claim SP please?

I ask as I have moved around a lot, had a number of limited companies where some history was lost, paid dividends not a salary to be tax efficient, lost a huge amount of paperwork in a nasty divorce, and wonder how much digging around I need to do to simply claim my SP.

Any input gratefully received.

MTIA 

mebu60

When is your SP due to start? Is there a reason why you are ringing to claim or is this your perception of what happens? 

They have your NI record which is the important bit. They contacted me beforehand, 3 months ahead I think, by letter. I filled out a form online which was pretty straightforward. I had to provide details of ex-wife and divorce date which I gave feedback was irrelevant under new SP system. Don't recall anything about employment history etc, they have all that. Just make sure they have your current contact details. 

Ayr_Rage

You should get the letter with the online application code 4 months before you are eligible for the state pension.

I am pretty sure nothing is different if you make your claim by phone.

The only question regarding employment was if, where and when you have worked outside of the UK.

The NI record they used was exactly as detailed in my online gov.uk account, so that is where you need to go and check which years have been credited from your various periods of employment

MarcusHutch

mebu60 said:

When is your SP due to start? Is there a reason why you are ringing to claim or is this your perception of what happens? 

They have your NI record which is the important bit. They contacted me beforehand, 3 months ahead I think, by letter. I filled out a form online which was pretty straightforward. I had to provide details of ex-wife and divorce date which I gave feedback was irrelevant under new SP system. Don't recall anything about employment history etc, they have all that. Just make sure they have your current contact details. 

Hi, Thanks for that. SP should start in a couple of weeks. 
As we live abroad, ringing seemed easier from abroad than filling out lengthy forms & relying on post....

Dazed_and_C0nfused

You cannot claim your State Pension via HMRC, it's DWP who are responsible for that.

Ayr_Rage

Time to have read of this

https://www.gov.uk/get-state-pension

and

https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-if-you-retire-abroad

MarcusHutch

Ayr_Rage said:

You should get the letter with the online application code 4 months before you are eligible for the state pension.

I am pretty sure nothing is different if you make your claim by phone.

The only question regarding employment was if, where and when you have worked outside of the UK.

The NI record they used was exactly as detailed in my online gov.uk account, so that is where you need to go and check which years have been credited from your various periods of employment

Thank you for that. I have a letter from HMRC showing which years need to be topped up. I guess I need to ring them though to find out which years will add value to my SP....

MarcusHutch

Ayr_Rage said:

Time to have read of this

https://www.gov.uk/get-state-pension

and

https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-if-you-retire-abroad

Will do. Thanks.

pinnks

MarcusHutch said:

mebu60 said:

When is your SP due to start? Is there a reason why you are ringing to claim or is this your perception of what happens? 

They have your NI record which is the important bit. They contacted me beforehand, 3 months ahead I think, by letter. I filled out a form online which was pretty straightforward. I had to provide details of ex-wife and divorce date which I gave feedback was irrelevant under new SP system. Don't recall anything about employment history etc, they have all that. Just make sure they have your current contact details. 

Hi, Thanks for that. SP should start in a couple of weeks. 
As we live abroad, ringing seemed easier from abroad than filling out lengthy forms & relying on post....

If you live in the EU then you claim all of your pensions via the pension authority in your country of residence pr, if you have not worked in that country, in the country where you last worked and contributed.
 

MarcusHutch

pinnks said:

MarcusHutch said:

mebu60 said:

When is your SP due to start? Is there a reason why you are ringing to claim or is this your perception of what happens? 

They have your NI record which is the important bit. They contacted me beforehand, 3 months ahead I think, by letter. I filled out a form online which was pretty straightforward. I had to provide details of ex-wife and divorce date which I gave feedback was irrelevant under new SP system. Don't recall anything about employment history etc, they have all that. Just make sure they have your current contact details. 

Hi, Thanks for that. SP should start in a couple of weeks. 
As we live abroad, ringing seemed easier from abroad than filling out lengthy forms & relying on post....

If you live in the EU then you claim all of your pensions via the pension authority in your country of residence pr, if you have not worked in that country, in the country where you last worked and contributed.
 

Thank you. I haven't worked in Portugal. Retired here  :-)  Last worked in the UK.

p00hsticks

MarcusHutch said:

Ayr_Rage said:

You should get the letter with the online application code 4 months before you are eligible for the state pension.

I am pretty sure nothing is different if you make your claim by phone.

The only question regarding employment was if, where and when you have worked outside of the UK.

The NI record they used was exactly as detailed in my online gov.uk account, so that is where you need to go and check which years have been credited from your various periods of employment

Thank you for that. I have a letter from HMRC showing which years need to be topped up. I guess I need to ring them though to find out which years will add value to my SP....

Nope, HMRC won't be able to tell you that.

Officially, you need to speak to the Future Pension Service (part of DWP) for that info, and in your case you'd need to do it quickly, as they can only give advice if you are below State Pension age. 
Contact the Future Pension Centre - GOV.UK

Unofficially, if you post up the figures from your state Pension forecast (how much you are forecast to get) and which years from your NI record are not full, then people her should be able to tell you which years are worth buying.